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[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Well it was night, and my apartment is a couple doors down from Gullet's. I was getting some shut-eye, and one of the locals coming out of Gullet's said they saw one of those shaggers running away from my bike with an armful and the tool compartment was open," Irina said, "I reported it to Daog, but he's got more important things to do than recover tools. 'Can you prove they're yours,' he said. 'Give me a five minutes with the shagger,' I said. 'Not good enough,' he said. Looks like I've got to do this the hard way. Say excuse me, Morgan."

 

Irina tapped Jess on the shoulder. “Hey, Jess. Give me a few minutes will ya? I’ve got to run back into Gullet’s. He’s storing an assault rifle I might need. I want to grab it.”

 

“No problem, luv.”

 

Irina jogged back to Gullet’s kicking up the dust in the street under her heels. She walked through the entrance. “Not gonna cause you any problems, Mate. I just need to get my rifle.”

 

“It’s in the room by the back entrance. Here’s the key,” Gullet said, waved her over and handed her the key to the storage room.

 

“Thanks, Mate.” Irina took the corridor from the first floor to the back of the building. There was a staircase to the second floor near the back entrance and the storage room was right underneath it.

 

                                                                                ***

                                                                                 

Naleena looked around the group. “Has anyone seen Dahlia?”

 

“No. I’ve been wondering where she wandered off to.” Morgan replied, “I think she’s still inside the saloon.”

 

“I’m going back inside to check. Gullet can kiss my blue ass,” Naleena said.

 

Naleena walked through the swinging doors of the saloon and was greeted by an angry Krogan.

 

“Hey! I thought I told you to leave! You can come back tomorrow, but I want you out of here, now!” Gullet said and began to approach.

 

“I’d back off if I were you. I’m looking for a member of my group. I think she’s still inside. The Asari I came in with.”

 

“That’s not my problem. Out! Now!”

 

“I can make it your problem very quickly,” Naleena’s aura flared.

 

“Okay! Okay! No need to get all hostile,” Gullet said, “I’m just trying to keep some order in this place.”

 

“And I’m just trying to find a friend.”

 

Dahlia was nowhere to be found downstairs. Naleena went upstairs, and ran into Dahlia walking casually down the hallway toward the stairs.

 

“What are you doing?” Naleena asked, “We’re about to leave.”

 

Dahlia pointed to the restroom facilities.

 

“Oh. Well, let’s go. The others are waiting. That redhead, Irina, is going with us to the DA.”

 

Dahlia followed Naleena out of the saloon. “I heard some shooting. Is everyone alright?”

 

“Yes. Well, that Batarian, Tardek had set up an ambush for Jess, but apparently the redhead’s bike was more important to her than Tardek anticipated,” Naleena said, “He lost his head.”

 

Naleena and Dahlia rejoined the group.

 

                                                                                ***

 

Irina walked out of the back of the saloon with her AR and tossed Gullet the keys. She was proud of her Mattock and took excellent care of it. She just didn’t like carrying it around town with her because it intimidated the locals, and, well Bertha usually was enough to take care of any ass****s.

 

She exited the saloon.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 25 juin 2014 - 07:56 .

[Cainhurst Crow]

This thing.

 

That was all vayne could think as he saw the massive robot horror in front of him. It was a lot bigger then the others, and looked a heck of a lot meaner as well. Something of it though, whether it was the spikes, or perhaps the placement of the magnetic hauling system, it made vayne get a tiny grin, which grew until he was laughing a bit, finding the silliness of this creepy looking thing managing to balance each other out.

 

"The spikes..." he said between laughs, "T-that mag winch..." he said, recovering and recomposing himself as he looked to the other steeds, "I have to say, its not as creepy looking once the accessories go on." he commented, taking a few steps towards the big thing, "It still looks like someone took a varren and stretched it into a monster looking thing like the old tales say. But its...." he said, voice trembling a bit as he finally got close and rested a clawed hand on the thing, looking about ready to bolt back at the first sign of trouble, "It's...its still bad, those silly bits don't help." he said, sounding a bit distant with that last bit as his hand shook a bit, ever so slightly trembling from something that, to someone who might not have known him better, might have been fear.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

The air of Duellos was thin like the air on Earth at 7000 feet above sea level. One could go about normal activity without supplemental oxygen fine, but anything strenuous like combat or athletic events required a rebreather mask. 

 

Naleena cast her eye on the black mecha steed. Dahlia walked over to the chestnut colored one and looked it over. 

 

"You like those two?" Calvin asked.

 

Naleena lit her cigar and looked over at Calvin and smiled. "I think we'll take these two. I'll take the black and Dahlia will take the chestnut."

 

Irina had gone to her upstairs apartment two doors down from Gullet's and grabbed a fur coat out of her closet. It was made out of skins of some local wildlife she'd shot when she went hunting. She had it drapped over her arm as she approached Calvin's. The group, especially Anika, gave her a strange look.

 

"What? Laugh if you want. It gets cold when the sun goes down," she said, "You'll wish you had one in a couple of hours.

 

"Calvin, I'll take that white mecha-steed, and I'll need a saddlebag. Won't be needing to wear this right now, and I'll need something to put my tools in on the way back."

 

"Going after them, are ya?" Calvin asked.

 

"Yeah, I'm gonna get them from the shaggers," she replied.

 

"Well, good luck. I'll keep my mouth shut to Daog and the sheriff." Calvin said.

 

"Thanks, Calvin."

[Kel Riever]

Once Jess was done haggling and paying for the mecha-steeds with Brisbane, she was able to get a look at the mecha-steed earmarked for her.  She saw its chrome-like surface polished to a shining finish that reflected the world around it.  A customizable light interface had been chosen for her omni-display, and also shone from the sensors that shone like eyes from either side of the steed’s ‘head’; Calvin had made the color of those lights bright green.  

 

The contraption was easy to hop onto, giving the perhaps inaccurate impression that it was easy to use.  Certainly, the tutorial displayed on the readout made it look as such, with its innocuous rider silhouette, shown steering the steed with its knees, and pulling back on handle bars, or ‘reins’, to stop it.  There was a small tab on the interface that read, ‘For advanced riders only.’

 

Jess wasted no time in opening the tab, and immediately got to work with her skills in looking at what made the thing tick.

 

Menu after menu showed more customizable options.  Different settings for rough terrain, sports speed, micro-thrusters for temporary boosts and a small element zero core, barrier shields (light for weather, heavy for combat), laser detection arrays which warned of incoming objects, ground penetrating radar to warn the rider of subsurface anomalies, and an interactive VI to keep it all running.

 

The Captain must have let loose a giggle because Morgan looked up from the side of his own steed and asked, “Like what you see?”

 

Jess pushed one of the buttons on the interface and saw a request for a four-digit code.

 

“Why does this steed have a pass code?” Stone asked the salesman.

 

“Pass code?”  Brisbane looked nervously.  “Um, unless you set it up for basic security there should be no pass codes.  We reinstalled all software for the models when they arrived, so…uh, go ahead and just hit enter?  Current codes should be wiped and you can reset all pass codes to your liking.

 

Calvin got a little more nervous and asked, “You sure you know what you’re doing with all those inner workings there, Miss?”

 

Jess hit enter.  A screen popped up in the display that showed a more detailed diagram of the inner workings of the mecha-steed, different than the one she had initially found exploring.  The difference was the detailed diagram showed the location of four hidden ports, two front and two rear; the ports were designed to either conceal cargo in or could be used to mount small arm weapons in.  Weapons that could be linked to a firing control mechanism.

 

“Oh, surely I do know, Mr. Brisbane.   Surely I do!”

[Redbelle]

As Jess continued to explore the steeds details stored in it's drives she flicked her eye's up to look at Morgan. The man was busy looking around at his steed, his grizzled features looking taunt and puzzled. Oddly, Jess found his body language more..... energetic? His shoulder's were not so rounded, he stood a little taller.

 

Rolling her eyes she looked back down at the steeds display and past.

 

Morgan's package lay between her legs on the saddle where she'd put it. She wouldn't have time later she knew, Pulling the fastening's open she peered into what lay inside.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia sat on her mecha-steed and looked at the instructions, and made it walk over to Morgan. "Have you ever ridden one of these?"

 

Naleena's had red eyes, well because black and red just look better. While the eyes of Irina's shone blue. Irina walked hers around, put it into a trot, stopped it, backed it up, then ran it down the rail of the testing area and did a sliding stop and a roll back and started the other way and did a sliding stop and walked it out. "I take these on hunting trips. They're not bad once you get used to them. Can get a little hard on yer bum at first so expect to be a bit sore tonight.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan was fascinated by the mechanical steed, now that he was close up to one.  He walked around it, trying to figure it out.  He had maybe ridden twice when he was young…a real horse, nothing to claim as experience.

 

Dahlia seemed to get the hang of it quickly as she rode her steed over to Morgan, “Have you ever ridden one of these?”

 

Dark eyes reflected his absorption as Morgan glanced up to Dahlia and shook his head to indicate he hadn’t.  He ran a hand across the plates that formed the neck of the steed.  Morgan’s mount was a medium to dark matte grey, less impressive looking than the others.  He spotted a few lines of wear, indicating it might have been slightly used, but other than that, it looked fully functional.  The saddle was pure leather from what he could tell, and happened to have a part hide, part magnetic holster for a rifle slung so a rider could easily draw it.  Morgan inadvertently whistled at the machine that now impressed him.

 

At the sound of his whistle, the steed’s head turned towards Morgan.

 

Morgan’s eyes opened in surprise.  He took a few steps back, and whistled again.

 

The steed walked towards Morgan and stopped in front of him.

 

“Okay, okay,” Brisbane called over.  “That’s the only used one of the lot.  Barely used.  But as good as new.  And its owner was an old hand from around here.  He just got himself all caught up in a gambling debt and had to sell.  Broke his heart.  But his loss is your good fortune.  Got some traditional features in that one; it’s a real Duellos custom settings.”

 

A sidelong glance at Calvin showed Morgan didn’t need to hear anymore.  He grabbed the steed and mounted up.  He found himself between Jess and Dahlia, maneuvering the artificial horse without difficulty.  Morgan pulled the Kovalyov rifle from his back, extended it fully and placed it in the steed’s holster.  After a second or two, he drew the rifle with one hand, discovering it came out easily.

 

Erebus, Duellos’ sun, was high in the sky and a dry wind kicked up.  From his research of the planet, Morgan knew the day was longer on Duellos than Earth.

 

“We’ve still got time to travel if we head out now.  I don’t need a coat with the environment suit, but I could use a hat.”

 

Calvin, always ready with a solution, piped up.  "On your way out of my lot, you have to turn back towards Gullet's to head out of town.  Two stores down from him you're going to find Maud's Emporium.  They've got all the hats, coats and gear you'll need.  Tell her ol'Cal sentcha!  She'll give you a good price!"

[Redbelle]

Jess found a box in her hands. A relatively small ceramic hinge lid devoid of any marking, etching or plates. Clicking the latches open she opened the box

 

Putting her hand inside she felt along the molded inset till her finger tips slid over the brushed metal of the grip that disappeared under a standard rubber textured fitting. Seizing the grip Jess yanked out the Brawler pistol and held it up in the light to scrutinise the build. She had to admit. She was impressed.

 

The materials were lightwieght, much like her Executor, only because the Brawler favoured less power for more shots, the Brawler was lighter by far. This thing traded stopping power for speed and repeat shots. Not that she'd ever needed a second except for that one time with Morgan's handler......

 

Flipping the gun around she squeezed the casing and pleasently found that casing had been tightened to provide better accuracy. It didn't have the mods to allow it to send a targetting dot to her eye. That was something she could fix once they were back on the Audron. Meanwhile the three prong sights with the dots cut into them would serve well for aiming for now.

 

...... Great. She was going into a fighting mentality. They were just going to go and look around and ask questions. Not shoot the place up. She slid the thermal clip chamber back and it opened without a sound. The mechanism well lubricated and aligned while the chamber was well cleaned and unscorched. Snapping it back cloed the the gun made a slight click. Quiet too. Not really her style but then.... that might not be a bad thing. She'd recently found her current arsenal lacking in several respects. Certainly not her punch, but unlike the others, she'd found herself having trouble surpressing her targets leading to risky mad dash's. Anika had always handled surpression.......

 

She was getting ahead of herself again. The Medusa was coming to get her. Deidrus's contract with her had been satisfied. The spectre hadn't made a move against her and the threat to human colonies was real she knew. Going back to the ship and alerting the Kings and Queens was the greatest asset she could bring to this crews endevour. Getting out word to all wh flew the shipping lanes from the seat of her power and passing it on. Jess opened the guns shaving alteration manipulator. Morgan had set the rounds to Phasic. Clever moody man.

 

From inside the molded inset Jess drew the holster for the Brawler. It was a reversible lef or right thigh piece that would draw as fast set forward as it would backwards. When not fixed into place the Brawler would run the risk of falling out if she ran or jumped or did anything strenuous. Anticipation of a fight would allow her to make full use of the guns potential. Which raised only one question.

 

Which hand to draw with? 

 

Bernard was familier as drawing breath. The Brawler was new territory. Jess chewed her lip and set the new holster opposite the leg from Bernard and seated the Brawler in. Giving it a flick she felt the gun move in the holster. Gripping it and seating it firmly she held her hand away then drew. It was hard to tell but it felt faster. Jess sighed and brought her arm back so the gun was pointing to the ceiling. Brawler..... It was..... not right. The gun was built for something more than slugging out gun fights in a back ally. This felt more like a surgical tool compared to Bernard. Anything was a surgical tool compared to Bernard. She looked at the gleam as the light shone off it's surfaces. Cool and sharp. Less power, but more versitility...... The name came past her lips before she was aware she'd decided.

 

"Sinbad".

 

Jess grinned. Spun Sinbad on her finger and set it in it's holster like a samurai sheathing her sword as she set the lock in place. Sinbad held firm and tight and Jess pulled the extra clips from the gun box before tossing the packaging and setting the box in one of her steeds empty ports.

 

The steed.......

 

Nothing came to her. "To bad your not a gun. I could find a proper name if you were a......". She said as she then paused. Inspiration hitting her. It was off the cuff and made no sense but she knew the steeds name now. "C'mon Baldurjack"! She said revving the steed's engine with her heels. "Let's see what you've got"!

[Redbelle]

Jess winked down at Calvin. "Mr Brisbane! My compliment's to your stock. I like this one. Now the resta yah! Let's see put these mounts through their paces"!

 

Jess donned her mask. Revved the engine higher and released the reins. As the pulled forward the steed reared and surged forward on two leg's before galloping forward, through the mass effect field and out into the street where she pulled the reins hard to the left causing Baldurjack to skid as it tried to turn before Jess released the reins once more and shot off in the direction of the emporium. Anika heard and saw her go and reaching up for her mounts saddle she grabbed the horn of the saddle and half pulled, half jumped up, knocking one of the heel accelerator's causing it to step to the right as she quickly seized the reins and brought it under control.

 

"I hate it when she does this". She said placing her mask to her face and made the mount follow. Far less spectacularly but with a resonable degree of skill for someone who had just mounted her first Mechasteed.

[Kel Riever]

Morgan saw the dust kicked up by Jess and Anika’s steeds stayed clear of the riders, as the minimal barrier for weather seemed to be the default setting.  He saw Irina was moving about on her steed in a familiar way.  He leaned over towards Calvin.

 

“Instead of getting us to tow Irina’s bike, why don’t you throw us in a favor.  Offer her to bring that bike here yourself and store it safely off the street in your lot.  It’ll go a long way to having us talk you up.”

 

“Uh,” Calvin seemed uncertain, then cheered up, “Sure!  Sure, it isn’t that far.  I’ll offer Miss Irina there some storage for a day.  Then I’ve got to charge.”

 

Morgan nodded then started moving his steed about.  It didn’t respond exactly as he thought, bucking slightly to the left, and then delaying in coming around to the right.  “Easy now,” he intuitively said.

 

The steed slowed, and compensated for his movements more.

 

Marveling to himself at the finer details that seemed to be built into the steed’s programming, Morgan turned to Dahlia.  “Well, let’s catch up.  Stick with me.  We’ll ride together.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia grinned at Morgan and kicked her steed into gear and rode side by side with him. "Thanks. I'd like that. Let's go get that hat for you. I hope they have something for Asari. They rarely do."

 

"Maybe they've got a scarf you can wrap over your head?" Morgan said.

 

"Maybe. But hats are cool looking if you get the right one. I've seen some old pictures of humans on the extranet, and I think I know what kind you'd look good in." Dahlia said as they dismounted.

 

"And what kind would that be?" Morgan asked.

 

"I think it's called a Fe...dora. Fedora. That's it. A Fedora," Dahlia said, "Like in the real old Earth movies. Either that or what they called a cowboy hat... one with a pinch front. Yeah. You'd look real good in that."

 

***

 

Irina wore a drover oil skin outback hat.

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 26 juin 2014 - 12:52 .

[Kel Riever]

Maud’s Emporium was crowded.  Not by a slew of customers, though there were more than a few, but with merchandise.  Whoever Maud was, wasn’t clear.  There was an old turian and old human behind the counter, helping various people with their purchases.  The rest of the store was open to explore.

 

Morgan entered with Dahlia, both leaving their steeds outside.  Anika and Jess had come in well enough ahead of them to already be deep in discussing their purchases.  Having spent plenty of time in the field, Morgan had a good idea of what supplies he wanted, so he first went to get some climbing cable and gear, a good survival kit, a basic repair kit, some portable lighting, a few meals ready to go and protein bars, and most of all, clean water.  He got enough to fit on his steed, and sent some notes by omni-tool to the others for what he thought they might want to make sure they got as well.

 

Dahlia went right to picking out the hats.  When Morgan was nearly done with his pile, she came over to him, trying out two Fedoras and one Stetson.  All were comfortable to Morgan and when she asked him which one he liked, he simply said, “You pick,” and let her.

 

The only issue Morgan had when he was done is he had nearly forgotten he was completely busted for cash.  It would have been a lot easier if Deidrus Androkan had at least come along for the purchases.  Either that, or that he didn’t send the entire amount of money to his family.  But then again, he hadn’t thought he’d need it.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Vayne didn't find getting onto his mechsteed to be easy, or simple. The foot handles were strong enough for him to push himself up by, which was good seeing how much he weighed, even excluding his armor. Balancing atop the thing was the hard part, his hump still giving him balance problems, now increased with his need to stay center on top of this...thing.

 

He had to admit though, from up here, vayne could see a bit more, and there was something about the robotic monstrosity that he had to admit could seem appealing to folks who didn't find these mechs creepy, that being most people here. His clawed hands trembled a bit as a look of absolute concentration came on his face, scrolling through the settings as he tried to tell himself this thing was just a robot, no different from a ymir, even if it looked like the eye eating horror of years gone past.

 

He did like the color though, it was a mostly old red color, lots of the paint either faded or flaking, though enough to see what color it had proudly been off the assembly line. There were yellow markings about it, most likely for the purposes of safety, or possibly construction, the after market spikes and detailing on this thing made it a bit tricky to gauge. Vayne had a love hate relationship with red and yellow, and it did a bit to help him calm his nerves while atop this mechanized beast.

 

"Okay vayne, you're a grown krogan half to deaths age already...you can ride a simple machine." Vayne said to himself as he read through the display on how to start up the thing, "Its not a tank as it should be, but its just a machine. Its just a damn machine and you can do this." he said, muttering to himself as he found the ignition system, "Okay....lets do this."

 

Vayne pressed the ignition button on the display, and a thunderous roar sounded from behind the group, masking the high pitched shriek of a surprised krogan mercenary.

 

This mechasteed was one meant for hard work and heavy lifting, a workhorse more then anything else. And as its neck raised and its legs rose up with the sound of pistons and metal against metal, the roar of an engine inside the heart of this mechanical beast sounded loud and proud. This thing wasn't like the others, having massive parts where the plating simply didn't exist, gaps for sand or dirt to simply pass through without jamming gears of shorting electronics. Instead one could see the heavy frame that supported this mechasteeds structure, spikes on its chest and running along what some might consider its spine adding a ghoulish effect to the skeletal like beast. Cables ran along the steeds "spine", and one could just catch a glimpse of this things energy cell, powering what appeared to be a gear system for the steeds four hydraulic reinforced limbs, sounding loudy as each system moved, with a mechanical whine and whistle of micro-motors and occasional hiss of air power, and the low rumble of its energy cell going to work powering the whole thing.

 

It sounded like what primitive earthlings might call a semi-truck, and vayne almost forgave this thing for its ugly look compared to its more silent and sleek models. Almost, being the key word here.

 

"Be brave Be brave Be brave..." vayne had to repeat to himself to keep from throwing himself over, noticing on his display in front of him not a simple readout, but a camera feed from the horses "eyes", two yellow glowing like screens, taking in information he might not otherwise see, like the ground terrain and weather conditions, as well as the distance of objects and most surprisingly, the depth. Vayne had long struggled with depth perception, and this thing gave a simple readout on the screen, not in tech babble or military jargon, but simple and easy to understand basic.

 

"Alright then...that's not bad." He said, not sounding confident as he looked to his robot, "Lets do this nice and easy...lets start with forwards." he said as he griped the handles to work the controls. The mechasteed came forward with a heavy jerk, power cells reving as its heavy foot moved forward, followed by another, and another, walking slowly forward while vayne gripped the reigns for dear life, "Ancestors guard my flank its moving..." he said as he looked towards the screen, seeing and feeling it bob slightly with each step. Looking from the cameras he could see the others moving away, blinking as he looked up to see the others leaving. "Hey Wait Up!" he called out, when a voice chimed in.

 

"Please state a destination."

 

Vayne looked around startled, "Who the ****-!?"

 

"Please state a destination."  Vayne looked down to see the mechasteeds screen now had a propmpt, asking the same question it had verbalized, "Ah great a VI nav..." vayne said with exasperation, "Doesn't help you look so creepy, now I have to put you on mute every time I go anywhere. I don't have time for this crap." he muttered as he tried to access the menu to shut off the VI, "I need to catch up with the others and quickly."

 

"Calculating..." the voice said as vayne blinked, "Calculation complete. Tracking designated target "others". Speed mode, "fast". Please stand by." as the voice spoke, vayne could feel the horse changing, hear the power cell beginning to gear up, as well as the motors starting up on their own, as the horse came to a stop, one foot kicking at the ground like a pounding hammer as each kick seemed to make the power rev harder and harder.

 

"Wait a second, don't do that...I said don't do that."

 

"Warm up complete. Hold on to something."

 

"What's that suppose to MeeeaaaaAAaaAAAAHHHHH!!!" Vayne had begun to ask, and stopped as the mechasteed reared up, legs kicking out as vayne grabbed the reigns and held on for dear life. As soon as the horse came to the ground, its hooves thundered like a train down the street, vayne clutching the reigns for dear life as the horse as the motorized creature speed by many onlookers, some just barely jumping out of the way as vayne was too scared to yell.

 

It steered itself, its head moving this way and that, leaning left and right to bob out of the way of whatever was too big or too slow to scare off. It thundered its way down to Mauds shop and came to a clattering halt just a few feet away, legs kicking and grinding up the dirt as it skidded to a halt in front of the store, and in front of other mechasteeds, simply standing there.

 

"Destination reached..." it stated as its display flashed on a cartoonish looking smiley face to vayne, whose only response was simple. He reached towards the ignition and pressed the "park" button as the steed clanked towards the others, standing next to them as it waited for whatever orders came next.

 

Vayne got off the horse, or more slumped off, as he looked at it for a few seconds, then promptly turned to walk into the shop. He looked around for the others, seeming shaken a bit as he walked up to one of the walls and put his hands on it, breathing in and out deeply as he looked to the ground, "Solid ground..." he said with a grin on his face, "I'll never take you for granted again."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Dahlia found another one, a Justin fur felt hat that had just the right shape for Morgan. Morgan sighed.

 

“It’s your money isn’t it? You had Naleena send all your money away, didn’t you?” Dahlia said.

 

Morgan nodded.

 

“Morgan, you have to keep enough money for expenses. Fine, wait here.”

 

Dahlia walked over to Naleena who was on another aisle. She explained the situation to her. Naleena put her hand to her forehead and shook it. Then she tapped her omni-tool and Morgan’s omni-tool beeped. “Here’s 1000 CR for supplies. Get yourself something nice. – N  P.S. I held back 100,000 CR for you. You need liquid assets, Morgan, so you don’t get stranded.”

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  As mentioned in the discussion, Morgan would have fought against having any money held back from being sent to his family, so I’m going ahead as if that didn’t happen for now.)

 

No connoisseur of fashion, Morgan sighed at the appearance of a fourth hat.  To him, they all looked fine.  But Dahlia seemed insistent on the last hat she found, and when she reached up to put it on his head, he liked how it felt.  He took it off to flip it over in his hands and admitted it did look nice.

 

When Dahlia asked him about his money, Morgan had a strange reaction he certainly didn’t have words to explain in a flash.  He found himself nodding when he should have shaken his head as a ‘no.’  Naleena, maybe an asari, but certainly far younger in relative years than him, chided him, which set off a series of confusion in his head.  Am I being scolded by a person who’s half my relative age, or a person who’s more than two times my age that should know better about a lot of other things?

 

That little bit of pondering made Morgan fail to stop Dahlia before she went off to Naleena.  A short minute later, he saw the message from Naleena in an omni-tool pop up, with a request to confirm accepting a credit transaction.  Morgan scowled and hit a button without typing a message back.  Naleena’s own omni-tool bleeped a pop up.

 

“Transaction denied.”

 

Morgan turned slowly to Dahlia until she caught his stare.  When she did, he put his finger to his eye as a gesture to watch.  He then picked up the supplies he wanted and went over to the counter.

 

The old human man wasn’t helping anyone, and Morgan placed the supplies on the counter in front of him.  He then leaned in to talk to the old man, wherein he received a short protest, a blank stare, and then a nod of the head.  The old man disappeared behind a large store door, and came out only a few minutes later with a lumbering elcor.  The old man waved Morgan to the far corner of the counter, where he, the elcor and Morgan had a quick conference.  First Morgan nodded, then the old man pointed off in a direction, and then Morgan nodded again.  The elcor became briefly loud enough to overhear.

 

“Surprised delight:  We accept your offer.”

 

The elcor started lumbering back to the door it had come from.  Pulling some bags and ties from behind the counter, the old man started wrapping Morgan’s supplies, but Morgan waved off most of the packaging.  When the old man was finished, Morgan put the new hat on his head, threw the supplies so they slung over his shoulder, and walked towards Dahlia.

 

“We’ve got one stop to make on the way out of town.  If you want to help, come along with me.”

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena was a bit puzzled, and she walked over to Morgan. The 350 year old Asari didn't understand what Morgan's problem was with the transaction. "Excuse us, Dahlia, I need to speak with Morgan, in private. Go browse some scarves." 

 

Dahlia did as she was told and went to the section with the scarves but she kept a hearing flap open to the conversation.

 

Naleena kept her voice low. "Morgan, what's the matter with you? You need operating expenses. 1000 CR is nothing. It was just enough to get your hat and load up on thermal clips, bottled water, and other supplies. This is how you get into trouble owing people favors. What happens if you can't deliver on your favor? What then? What happens if the person decides 'oh, let's take a finger or say a molar in exchange for whatever it was you took, or perhaps a hand or worse? I held this back for you, friend. I've seen the underbelly of this galaxy for far too many years, and I've been a fugitive for 200 of them."

[Kel Riever]

Morgan peered over at Naleena as she came over, somewhat surprised that she cared to make the extra effort.  He listened to her, and wondered what exactly she thought he wasn't capable of.  But that was a road to an argument.

 

So instead, he let his eyes roll to Dahlia and then his eyes rolled back to Naleena.  "I may not be a century old but I've got some things she could learn.  Do you want her to find a place working with us or keep begging at the fringes for something she wants to do?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena saw that talking with Morgan about money was going to be like beating her head against a brick wall. It would feel so good when she stopped. "Okay, fine. I see you don't want to discuss that so I'll drop it. Just know it's there if you need pocket change."

 

She looked over at Dahlia and back to Morgan. Humans are a shorter lived species and tend to cram more 'living' into fewer years while we Asari tend to live more leisurely paced lives. I'm sure Morgan has learned about as much as I did in my first 50 years on the run which was a lot. I'll give him that. "Okay, Morgan, what do you have in mind?"

[Kel Riever]

"Keep the money," Morgan simply said.  "And thanks, if I ever do run into life or death money problems, I'll know who to speak to.  But if you're all right with letting Dahlia out of your sights for an hour, I want to take her along with me for a little sidetrip.  And, if you could, don't mention anything we talked about."

 

Definitely intimidating, Morgan thought to himself with Naleena standing taller than him in her black leather coat.  I'll never tell her I know she's got a decent side in public.

 

Morgan kept his mouth shut.  He distracted himself by watching store patrons move away from Vayne as the krogan entered the shop.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"I won't. Your dealings with me are confidential," Naleena said and smiled, "And I trust you with her. She can be a bit impulsive. Good luck."

 

Naleena wandered back to Dahlia. "I'd like you to go with Morgan for a while as part of your training. He has a few things you need to learn. Just do what he tells you, okay?"

 

Dahlia rolled her eyes at Naleena but was secretly happy about the arrangement, and met Morgan back near the entrance to Maud's.

 

Naleena wandered back to Anika's side.

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

And the adventure starts:

 

[Redbelle]

Anika looked at Naleena. "Jess made me do it".

 

She was now decked out in a patterned Poncho and a wide brimmed hat. "A Sombrero". Anika explained. "Jess saw it and...... And then she bought..... that". she pointed to where Jess stood.

 

The lone figure was standing off looking in a full length mirror in a rickity looking frame. Her hands on her hips and a leather trenchcoat gathered at her back. Her leg's wore black leather boots with hard wooden heels with spurs attached to and jutting out the back. She'd seemed to have found a pair of denim boot cut jeans that were partially obscured by a set of leather chaps while on her head, being poked up by a single finger while she set one foot forward to admire the look, she wore a Stetson that sat over the red neckacheif that was tied around her neck. A shorter balding white haired man in spectacles and a pristine waistcoat with a pocket chain seen dangling on the outside was fussing over her until Jess held out a hand. The man understood immediately and drew a cigar from the top of his waist coat pocket while a small silver lighter appeared in his hand.

 

Taking the cigar Jess leaned in as the man snicked a flame into existance and holding the cigar in her mouth, Jess pushed the end into the fire which made a sizzle before she leaned backwards to admire the effect.

 

"I'll take it all". She said. "And any fake mustache you have for my friend over there".

 

"Jeeeeess"! Anika said in a low warning.

 

"Cancel that mustache". Jess told the man who was busy scribbling down the amounts. "Throw it in with the rest of the equipment and get it stowed on Baldy out front".

 

Turning to the rest of the group Jess strode away from the man who disappeared and Jess managed all of five seconds before she burst out laughing. "C'mon luvs..... When else will I get to do this again"?

 

Popping the cigar in her mouth she drew a breath and the end sizzled as the ember's flared. "It's two hours ride to the Drowned Aspire compound. We've got water, nav gear. The suns up. And we're wearing cowboy hats. Let's roll". Jess turned and every step she made was announced by a *ching* as the wooden heels and spurs rattled.

 

Anika looked at Naleena. "It's on her bucket list".

[Kel Riever]

As Dahlia came up to Morgan, he said to her in a tone which could have been encouraging, though it was hard to tell.  "It's not just a human world.  They have hats to fit asari you know."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Naleena looked over at Anika and smiled as she watched her rolling her eyes. "Let her live the dream, Anika. I'm going to join her."

 

There was a black flat brimmed Resistol hat that had been specially made to fit over the head crest of Asari. She tried it on. It had the right look from the front, and who cared about the back. First impressions were all that mattered. There was also a gold pocket clock on a chain. It was an interesting gadget. When she opened it up, it chimed a sad melody. She decided to buy it. Then she spied a light colored curved pipe and a pouch of pipe tobacco and lighter. She paid for the items, left the store and stood just outside the entrance. She packed the pipe and lit it while she gazed down the dusty street, and turned to Anika and winked.

 

"Let's mount up," she said.

[Kel Riever]

(Note: the following was done after getting Shotgun Julia's approval)

 

On the way out of Maud’s emporium, Morgan promised Vayne that Vayne would have plenty of time to get whatever was necessary during the detour Morgan was about to make with Dahlia.  Morgan informed Vayne the idea was to catch up with the group just after they left town.  After talking to the krogan, Morgan exited the store, mounted up, and gave a quick tip of the hat to Jess.  “We’ll find everyone in about an hour.  You fit right in, Captain,” he said while Dahlia got on her own steed.  Morgan then told Dahlia, “This way,” as he brought his mecha-steed to a brisk canter and directed it down a side avenue.

 

Morgan didn’t talk on the way, making sure he was following directions from the satellite feed display linked to his Kuwashii visor.  He also spent the time synchronizing his visor’s head up display with the mecha-steed’s VI.  The trip to where he was heading took fifteen minutes, though he certainly could have pushed it faster.  Where the two went was a serene part of town, mostly residences of people who were at work for the day, and no children playing outside.

 

Dahlia and Morgan dismounted in the front of a single residence, two-story house.  It was as boring as it could appear, with gray brown alloy walls, and windows not just tinted one way to block out the sun, but closed with hard, pull down, shutters.  There was an old bicycle, of all things, on a porch that looked unused, and the weather barrier in front of the door visibly flickered off and on every once in a while, a short likely the cause of the problem.  Alleys on either side were narrow, separating the structure from its stark neighbors, who were equally closed to the outside world.

 

Morgan stepped around in front of Dahlia and looked her head to toe.  He spotted the Phalanx and Tempest on her leg holsters, then peered around her back to spot the Claymore.  He reached over, pulled it out, and extended the weapon.  It was of smaller design than a comparable Claymore for a krogan, but still hefty for the wiry Dahlia and packing just as much punch.

 

“Hey!” Dahlia protested.

 

Morgan held the barrel and offered the gun back to Dahlia.  “Use this. But I don’t want you shooting anyone.”

 

“What’s the point, then?”

 

“You do angry, right?”  Morgan assessed her deep purple eyes.  “Show me angry.”

 

It wasn’t hard for Dahlia.  She was already perturbed at Morgan not telling her what was going on.

 

“That’s good,” Morgan said.  “Now, I’m going to send you some text on your omni-tool.  Give me two minutes to get myself into position, hold that shotgun up like you mean to use it, hold up your omni-tool in your other paw, and read that text loud, clear and angry.  If you see a man run out the front door, call my name.”

 

“What are you going to do?”

 

“Don’t worry about me.  And don’t shoot anyone.  Got it?”

 

“Yes, but…”

 

“And angry.  Don’t forget angry.  No more questions.”

 

Dahlia was angry, thinking Morgan was treating her like a child.  Why else wouldn’t he tell her anything that was going on?  He was walking away, heading towards one of the alleys next to the house, typing on his omni-tool.  She was going to shout after him when the alert light on her own omni-tool blinked.  Dahlia opened it up and started reading the text message Morgan sent her.  As she read, her brow rose and her expression became intrigued.  What, by Athame, is this? she wondered.

 

Dahlia was beginning to put the pieces together when she realized from the timer on the omni-tool that she was about to miss the two-minute mark Morgan had given.  He was nowhere to be seen.

 

When the two minutes were up, Dahlia hoisted her Claymore to point at the house, held the omni-tool in front of her, and, as she read, yelled, “Denton Kincaid, you no good scamp!  You are wanted for thieving, fraud and skullduggery across three clusters of known space!  By decree of Asari Republic law, I hereby place you under arrest!  Come out with your hands up!”

 

All was still except for the blowing wind, and then Dahlia heard what sounded like a crescendo of footsteps inside the house.  The front door flung open and a half-dressed woman in peach, holding most of her clothes up with her arms, came through the flickering weather barrier.

 

“I didn’t do nothin’,” the peach woman yelled, “It was all him!  That cheapskate!  He told me he had money to pay!”

 

Dahlia didn’t see anyone behind the woman, who was now pointing into the house.  From behind the house, she heard a yelp of surprise.  Despite her distance, she then heard the sound of something hitting the dirt hard.  Dahlia left the woman at the front, and ran down an alley towards the rear of the house.

 

A man, also half dressed, was on the ground in tan pants and a shirt, with shoes held in his hands.  Blood had blossomed from his nose, and he lifted the shoes, pleading to Morgan who stood over him.  “You got the wrong man!  Please!  I never did anything to any asari!  Maybe I took some money here or there, but I’m just a small timer!”

 

“Sure, Kincaid, if you want to call three-thousand credits small time.  The money you owe Maud.  I won’t mention what you owe your hire I hear screaming in the front.”

 

“Maud?  Is that what this is about?”  The man put his shoes down but put his hands back up.  “I told her I’d pay her at the end of the month.  I’ve got the money I just don’t have it now.”

 

Morgan drew his Phalanx steadily.  “I don’t have time for this.”

 

“You’re going to shoot me for the money!  Wait! Wait, let’s deal.  I’ll give you five-hundred…No!  Seven-fifty, it’s all I’ve got, straight to you, and the two of you could walk away and forget about me."

 

Morgan let the barrel of the Phalanx drift over towards Kincaid.  “I can tell you can’t count.  Two steeds in the front, only one person standing by them.  Omni-tool, now!”

 

“OKAY! Okay.”  Denton Kincaid pulled up his omni-tool and started furiously typing.  “Three thousand credits, send it to you, right?  Go ahead and take it from me and please leave me alone.”

 

“Did I say I wanted the money?  Send it directly to Maud.”  Morgan looked Denton dead in the eye.

 

“You…what?” Kincaid looked confused, and then finished typing. “Fine. Okay!  Whatever you want!  Please let me go and don’t hurt me!”

 

Morgan activated his omni-tool while keeping his gun on the man at his feet.  He watched a display screen, awaiting a confirmation.  When he received it from Maud, he told Kincaid.  “Now get the hell out of here.”

 

Kincaid broke out in sweat, and started gasping for air from the nervousness and sudden relief.  “I made a mistake!  I won’t make it again,” he apologized, his head moving back and forth between Morgan and Dahlia. “You won’t have to worry about me for good.  I’m leaving this town.  Tell Maud I’m sorry!”  Kincaid got up and started running down the street.  In about ten meters, he started wheezing heavily in the thin air, and careened sideways out of control.  In another ten meters, he passed out, landing face first on the ground. 

 

“That settles the debt,” Morgan said to Dahlia.  “Let’s go get the steeds and catch up with the others.”